Sherry Magness has been awarded the 2024 Suzanne McDaniel Award by the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. (Contributed Photo)

From Staff Reports

UT Health welcomes new physicians

Devanshi Mehta, MD

UT Health East Texas is expanding pulmonary and critical care services in Tyler with the addition of Devanshi Mehta, MD.

“My approach to care is patient-centered, emphasizing the importance of providing information in an understandable way so patients can make informed decisions about their treatment options,” Dr. Mehta said. “Patient autonomy and safety come first, above all else. Empowering patients with the tools they need to make the decision that is right for them is my first job.”

Dr. Mehta said her interest in pulmonology is deeply personal, as she suffers from asthma herself.

“This connection has fueled my dedication to the field, where I enjoy the cerebral nature of diagnosing and treating complex respiratory conditions,” she said. “As a pulmonologist, I treat the whole gamut of lung diseases, with a particular focus on interstitial lung disease.”

Dr. Mehta is welcoming patients at 11937 U.S. Hwy 271 in Tyler. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 903-877-7916.

Sarah Bindner, DMSc, PA-C

UT Health East Texas is expanding family medicine services in Whitehouse with the addition of Sarah Bindner, DMSc, PA-C.

“I am dedicated to building strong, trusting relationships with my patients, helping them understand their health and make informed decisions with confidence,” Bindner said. “I believe in advocating for personalized care that aligns with each patient’s unique health goals and in empowering them to take an active role in their healthcare journey.”

Bindner said her path to healthcare began with a personal interest in healthy living, which grew into a desire to support others in their health journeys.

“Becoming a physician assistant has allowed me to combine my commitment to promoting wellness with my love for working with people,” she said. “My medical focus includes preventive care, women’s health, mental health and helping patients manage chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension and weight management, always with the goal of enhancing quality of life.”

Bindner is welcoming patients at 601 Hwy. 110 N., Ste. O, in Whitehouse. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 903-839-1775.

Mladjen Veselinovic, MD

UT Health East Texas is expanding infectious disease services in Tyler with the addition of Mladjen Veselinovic, MD.

Dr. Veselinovic specializes in patient-centered, evidence-based care for acute and chronic infectious diseases, including mycobacterial infections, infections in immunocompromised hosts, osteoarticular infections and diabetic foot infections.

“With extensive clinical expertise and the latest research, I ensure my patients receive the safest and most effective treatments,” Dr. Veselinovic said. “I believe in maintaining open communication so patients are fully informed and comfortable with their care plans. Collaboration with other clinicians and researchers is essential for providing comprehensive care.”

Dr. Veselinovic said his focus on infectious diseases was shaped by his experiences at the University of Belgrade, where he researched HIV-associated cognitive-motor complex and studied opportunistic infections.

“This specialty lets me explore the interplay between the immune system and pathogens while significantly impacting patient care,” he said.

Dr. Veselinovic is welcoming patients at 11937 US Hwy. 271 in Tyler. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 903-877-7916.

Magness honored with Suzanne McDaniel Award

The Smith County Criminal District Attorney’s Office recently announced that Sherry Magness was awarded the 2024 Suzanne McDaniel Award by the Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA). This prestigious honor is given annually to an individual who exemplifies the advocacy, empathy, and dedication to victims’ rights that were hallmark traits of Suzanne McDaniel, a beloved and influential figure in the Texas legal community.

“Sherry Magness is the embodiment of the values Suzanne McDaniel championed: compassionate advocacy for victims, unwavering empathy, and an unrelenting focus on justice,” said Jacob Putman, Smith County Criminal District Attorney. “Her exceptional dedication to serving victims is an inspiration to all of us in the legal community.”

Since March 2006, Magness has served as the Victim Assistance Coordinator in the Smith County District Attorney’s Office, where Putman said she has worked tirelessly with thousands of victims, from those affected by family violence to the family members of murder victims. Known for her kindness, patience, and compassion, she has built lasting relationships with victims and their families, including those involved in death penalty cases, which often face years of appeals.

In 2012, Magness volunteered to become a trained facility dog handler, enabling victims to find comfort and companionship during difficult legal proceedings. Over the years, she has successfully handled three different facility dogs, providing invaluable support to those she serves.

Magness’s commitment extends beyond her day-to-day work in Smith County. She served on TDCAA’s Key Personnel-Victim Services Board from 2018 to 2019 and contributed to the Texas Prosecutor Journal in 2014, sharing her insights on obtaining and maintaining a victim services canine.

“I am truly honored to receive the Suzanne McDaniel Award,” Magness said. “Suzanne’s legacy is one of profound impact, and I am humbled to be recognized in her name. My work has always been about supporting victims and ensuring they have the resources and comfort they need during their most difficult times.”

The TDCAA & the Smith County Criminal District Attorney’s Office congratulates Magness on this well-deserved award and commends her continued commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of victims and their families across Smith County and beyond.

TJC associate vice provost honored by A&M

Dr. Tim Drain, Tyler Junior College associate vice provost for student affairs, was recently honored by his alma mater, Texas A&M University.

A 1991 graduate of Texas A&M, Drain was one of seven recipients of the TAMU College of Education & Human Development’s (CEHD) annual Outstanding Alumni awards, the highest honors CEHD bestows upon its former students for making exceptional contributions to their professions and communities.

He and his fellow recipients were recently recognized during a gala event in College Station.

Drain is currently in his 26th year in higher education administration at TJC, having served as associate vice provost for student affairs since 2018. In this role, he oversees the dean of students, student life, the Apache Recreation Center, Intercollegiate Athletics and the Apache Belles.

He previously served 19 years in athletics administration at TJC, with 16 of those as the director of intercollegiate athletics. During his time at TJC, the College has won 42 national championships, with 33 of those under Drain as athletic director.

In recognition of TJC’s athletic success, Drain has been honored three different times as the Under Armour National Athletic Director of the Year (2012, 2015 and 2018). Prior to TJC, he was involved with the Texas A&M tennis programs, serving as the Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach from 1986-90, 1991-92 and the Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach from 1994-1999. In 1997, he was awarded the ITA Southwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this award from Texas A&M,” Drain said. “I am forever grateful to A&M for pointing me in the right direction and starting my career, and to Tyler Junior College for molding me for the last 26 years. I am fully aware that my family and those in my work family have allowed me to receive some very nice personal recognition. This truly is a special award to me, and I am thankful.”

Drain and his wife, Holly, reside in Tyler. They and their sons, Peyton and Nathan, are all Texas A&M alumni.

UT Tyler faculty recognized for care

Kerrie Anne Ambort-Clark, a distinguished teaching professor in management and assistant dean in the Soules College of Business at The University of Texas at Tyler, was named a 2024 Regent’s Awardee by the American College of Healthcare Executives. An elected board member of the East Texas ACHE Chapter, Ambort-Clark first received this recognition in 2022 and is the lone two-time chapter recipient.

The ACHE Regent’s Awards recognize members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of health care management excellence and achievement of ACHE’s goals.

“Kerrie Anne has been an outstanding board member supporting many aspects of our chapter,” said Dawn Johnston, ACHE Board of Directors president and East Texas chapter member. “We are proud to recognize all of her exceptional contributions.”

Ambort-Clark is instrumental in the development and execution of UT Tyler health care management education, interdisciplinary programs and student success initiatives in her roles as assistant dean of health-related business programs in the Soules College and the School of Medicine’s Health Care Leadership Distinction director. Outside UT Tyler, she has provided leadership development for community constituents and created leadership training modules used in both academia and industry.

She was recognized in a private ceremony earlier this month at the UT Tyler Health Science Center alongside ACHE and community health care administrators and university colleagues. She was also awarded the ACHE top Leader-to-Leader–Academic Category honor last year.

A UT Tyler alum, Ambort-Clark has served the university since 2009. She teaches in business and is a professor of practice in the School of Medicine, contributing to the population health system sciences/health care administration leadership and management curriculum. Recognized for her excellence in teaching, she received a 2018 UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award and was named a 2019 UT Tyler Academy of Distinguished Teachers Faculty Fellow and a 2024 UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers Fellow.

The ACHE is the professional society for health care leaders committed to improving health. For more information, visit ache.org.